In Nigeria, Boko Haram and other non-state armed groups as well as clashes between herders and farmers have pushed some 3 million Nigerians as of 2024 out of their homes with 29% of these displaced persons being financially excluded. These refugees in recent years have had little or no income to survive on. To remedy the situation, economic experts demand that refugees be given a suitable environment for business.
In Nigeria, economic experts are calling on the government to improve the business environment within camps for the internally-displaced.Over 3 million people have been forced from their homes and into these over-crowded camps for a variety of reasons. However, within these camps, many cannot earn a proper living or get a small loan because they lack basic things like an address or a bank account and sometimes the necessary skill.
They don’t have proper documentation. They don’t have proof of address. Some of them are not even able, the little resources that they have. They don’t want to get into the banking system to pay charges and other things like that. And that’s why you see them being financially excluded.
JOEL HARUNA, Economic and Financial Expert
According to the government, it has resettled more than 1 million IDPs with further plans to return more people to their communities.Earlier this month, the Central Bank said it would work with financial institutions and NGOs to improve access to essential services and boost the economic independence of displaced people. For women in displacement camps like these, such initiatives offer hope, but their priority is still a safe return to their communities, and better livelihoods.
What we’re saying is that it’s for the government to provide economic activity along these IDP camps where people can make money…encourage the banks to set up their agents in these IDP camps.
JOEL HARUNA, Economic and Financial Expert
The UNHCR reports that the core development challenge for IDPs in Nigeria is to ensure that they, as well as host communities, often located in fragile geographic areas have access to improved basic services and economic opportunities.
